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GROUPS

U3A Newsletter

Art Group

Badminton

Book Club

Bridge

Canasta

Cookery

Discussion Group

Gardening Club

Geology Group

History Group

Lacemaking

Luncheon Club

Natural History Group

Needlework

Photography

Scrabble

Sunday + Club

Swimming Group

Table Games

Table Tennis Group

Travel Club

Ukulele Group

Visits/Outings

Walking Group

Broomfield & District

January 2017

From The Chair

It seems to me that Christmas is either spent as a

frantic and stressful time coping with and feeding

large gatherings of family and friends or quietly

just with close family or on ones’ own.

However, whatever you got up to or how you

spent your Christmas and New Year I do hope

you had an enjoyable time and are now looking

forward to 2017 and all that it may bring. What

experiences and knowledge will we gain from our

membership of the U3A during the year?

I wish you all a very happy and healthy 2017.

David

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MONTHLY MEETING - FUTURE SPEAKERS 2016/17

11th Jan. 2017 The View from Space Andy Bennett

8th Feb. 2017 Essex Air Ambulance Tony Chappell

8th March 2017 New Hall Tony Tuckwell

12th April 2017 North Korea Veronica Stevens

10th May 2017 TBA

14th June 2017 The Agricultural Depression Neil Wiffen

12th July 2017 A Nice Cup of Tea Tim Turner

13th Sept. 2017 In the Footsteps of the Generals Malcolm Taylor

11th Oct. 2017 Facing the Camera Zena Skinner

8th Nov. 2017 History of Lodges Coaches Robert Lodge

This month our speaker, Andy Bennett, will look at some of the amazing things we see from space,

both looking to Earth and looking out into the Milky Way galaxy and the Universe. Are we really

likely to be alone? What amazing discoveries have national space agencies, including NASA and ESA

(the European Space Agency) made, and what will they be doing in the coming years? The talk also

examines some of the myths and realities of what can be seen from space; can you actually see a car

number plate from a satellite as spy films suggest, and is the Great Wall of China really the only man

made thing you can see from space?

In February Tony Chappell, a representative of the Essex and Herts. Air Ambulance Trust, will talk

to us about the vital work of this charity.

BROOMFIELD AND DISTRICT WEBSITE –

http://u3asites.org.uk/broomfield/groups

RIP

We have been informed that our speaker in May - Barry Kaufmann-Wright has sadly

passed away. Another speaker is being found.

We have also heard of the death of Fran Smith – who gave us a very interesting talk

last September about the Remus Sanctuary.

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CALENDAR FOR JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

9th January 10th 11

th 12

th 13

th 14

th 15

th

Bridge 2pm

Gardening

Group 2pm

Table Games

2 pm

Swimming 10 am

Monthly

Meeting 1.30pm

Table Tennis

2pm

Needlework

2pm

16th

January 17th 18

th 19

th 20

th 21

st 22

nd

Canasta 2pm Walking Group

10.30am

Swimming 10 am

Discussion Group

2pm

Heart & Sole

12.30pm

Ukelele

Lacemaking

2pm

23rd

January 24th 25

th 26

th 27

th 28

th 29

th

Bridge 2pm

History visit

Geology 2pm

Natural History

10am

Swimming 10am

Luncheon Club

12.30

Book Club 2pm

Scrabble 2pm

Table Tennis

2pm

Needlework

2pm

Photography

10am

30th

January 31st 1

st February 2

nd February 3

rd February 4

th February 5

th February

Swimming 10am

Art Group 10am

Cookery

Heart & Sole

12.30pm

Ukelele

Lacemaking

2pm

6th

February 7th

8th

9th

10th 11

th 12

th

Canasta 2pm

Swimming 10 am

Monthly

Meeting 1.30pm

History visit

Table Tennis

2pm

Needlework

2pm

Sunday + Club

12.30pm

13th 14

th 15

th 16

th 17

th 18

th 19

th

Bridge 2pm

Table Games

2 pm

Swimming 10 am

Art Group 10am

Heart & Sole

12.30pm

Ukelele

Lacemaking

2pm

20th 21

st 22

nd 23

rd 24

th 25

th 26

th

Canasta 2pm Walking Group

10.00am

Swimming 10am

Table Tennis

2pm

Needlework

2pm

Photography

10am

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Broomfield U3A Group Reports

Art Group

Book club

The Art Club will reconvene on Wednesday 18th January 2017. Please bring along an image you wish to

paint. I think it will be a good idea to discuss what we would like to achieve in 2017 - some new ideas will

be welcome particularly the use of different media.

Further dates for your diary are:

1st February

15th February

1st March

15th March

Look forward to seeing you then

All sessions are from 10 am - 12 noon weather permitting. If it is really bad weather the session will be

held at my house .

Jo Bowman .

At present we can only book sessions on an ad hoc basis but if anyone is interested in coming along please

contact me.

Barbara Bartlett

We did not meet in December and our next meeting will be on Thursday, 26th January

2017 at 2 pm in Broomfield Library. We always look forward to welcoming new mem-

bers, please contact me if you are interested in joining.

Barbara Bartlett

Badminton Group

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Bridge

Canasta

Cookery

Bridge is on 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month, starting at 2.00pm.

New members are always welcome, whether you are a complete beginner, you have slight knowledge or

you are an improver. Please contact me on my phone number or email if you are interested.

It is not as difficult a game as some people seem to think – if you can count up to 13, are logical and

understand strategy (i.e. have a liking for Attack and Defence!) it is a good game to play.

I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible.

Best regards,

Melanie Pimm.

The Canasta group will now meet on the first and third Mondays. Same time, same place.

Marie Mackie

Photos from the Luncheon meeting on 5th

January. Chicken soup to start followed by Braised Steak &

vegetables, milk jelly & raspberries to finish.

Next meeting 1st February,

Jacqui Barnaby

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Geology

Gardening Group

The next meeting is on January 18th

2017 , 2pm at the usual venue.

The next subject is 'Do today's young people know the meaning of Christmas' If anyone else has a topic

that they would like to lead on please feel free to change the above topic.

Refreshments will be served during the discussion.

Thelma Nickerson

There are very few garden related activities this month but we will probably pay our usual January visit to

Hyde Hall. (Date to be announced)

Our next planning/ home meeting will be on Monday January 9th at 2.00 pm.

Pat Radford

Having given you a rest for the festive season, we begin the new year with controversy! To be precise, The

Granite Controversy, which is as old as the study of geology itself.

Please bring a piece of granite to be controversial about, plus your hand lens and torch if you have one - if

not we have plenty available. We will practise looking and seeing as well as trying to understand the

Discussion Group

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History Group

geological position of granite and why this caused such debate. We look forward to seeing you all again on

24th

January 2017.

Ros & Ian

Monday January 23rd

2017 Visit to Essex Police HQ for tour of Force Information Room,

talk and visit to Essex Police Museum £3 per head..

Wednesday February 8th

2017 Chelmsford NT Supporters Group talk " - An architectural

history of Chelmsford". 7.45p.m Cramphorn Theatre Chelmsford

£5 for non-members PAY ON THE DOOR.

We have other trips in the pipeline, details of which will be notified later.

Jan & Sylvia

White Granite Red Granite Orbicular Granite

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Sunday+ Group

Luncheon Club

Lacemaking

The Lace Group continues to meet on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month at 2 pm at the home of group

leader Wendy Talley. The group is still small and new members would be welcome. We have equipment

which can be lent to anyone so that they can try out lacemaking without any financial outlay. Help will be

given, printed instructions are available and there are several books that can be borrowed.

Wendy Talley

Well, Christmas lunch this year was at a very firm favourite, The Ship at Tiptree. There were 25 of us and

I think I can confidently say that everyone enjoyed a superb meal at a wonderful price. Not to forget that

Mr Wiffen supplied us all with our usual fresh mistletoe for which were all very grateful.

The next meeting is on Wednesday, 25th

January 2017, 12.30pm at The Castle, Great Leighs. The list will

be pinned up at the next monthly meeting.

Just by way of a gentle reminder, that if you put your name down for one of these events that if you

are unable to attend that you please do give me 24 hours notice.

Muriel Whiting

Starting the New Year off with a totally new venue so January’s meeting is on the 8th and will be at Le

Benaix, Main Road, Rettendon, at 12.30 pm .

Sunday + Group 12 February 2017 The Wheatsheaf, Hatfield Peveral 12.30 pm.

Muriel Whiting

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Natural History Group

Needlework Group

Swimming

Scrabble

Photography

Our next meeting will be a planning meeting at 10 am on Tuesday 24th January 2017.

Sue Browning.

Our next sessions to knit, natter, stitch, sew and crocket etc will be on Friday 13th January and Friday 27th

January, followed by Friday 10th & Friday 24th February. They will all be at Ros Mercer's house. We look

forward to sharing our skills and watching progress with our projects.

Ros

Hope everyone had a great Christmas, and best wishes for the New Year.

Just a little reminder that the first session of 2017 will be on January 28th.

Looking forward to seeing you then.

Glynn Wadeson

Scrabble will be on Thursday 26th January 2pm at the usual address.

Heather Steed

The Swimming Group meet every Wednesday morning (10 am) at Riverside, Chelmsford. New members

welcome.

Barbara Bartlett

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Table Tennis

Table Games

Table Games are on 2nd

Tuesday of the month.

Marion Khoshuei

Exercise after possible excess – table tennis costs £1 and the dates for January and February are as follows:

Thursday, 12th January

Friday, 27th January.

Thursday, 9th February

Friday, 24th February.

All at 2pm and held at Chelmsford Sports & Athletics Centre off Melbourne Avenue.

Looking forward to seeing anyone interested, some bats on loan for those who want to give it a try.

Jean Lock

Trip to Isle of Man

I have put together a trip for next year to the Isle of Man 7 night holiday starting on 22 July, 2017. Anyone

interested in joining us to contact me for a booking form and poster.

Chris Evans

Art Holiday in Holland

“A U3A member of the Baddow and Galleywood U3A is arranging an Art Holiday in Holland. It will be

from Thursday 29th June to Wednesday 5th July 2017. They will visit most of the large art galleries there,

Van Gogh and Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Kroller-Muller (which has a number of Van Gogh’s}, and

the Mauritshuis in The Hague.

Travel Club/Holidays

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Walking Group

Visits

7 days half-board costs £1178. To book contact: Sylvia Perry

Ann Griffin

Meetings take place alternate fortnights at the homes of Jan White and Val Vicary normally on a Thursday

at 2pm. The last meeting this year will be 12th

December 10.30am at Pat's and then our 'concert' on the 14th

at the U3A

Our first meeting in 2017 is on Thursday 19th

January, then 2nd

February and 16th

February.

New members are always welcome.

Chris Evans

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN COACH OUTINGS/OUTINGS IN

GENERAL?

If the above captures your attention do please let me know .I would like to provide occasional trips for

members but obviously need to get an idea of how many of you would like to participate (obviously you

would not be expected to go on every trip, don’t want to scare you off )

If you are interested could you please email me . An idea of venues would also be appreciated . If

you would like to discuss before doing so please contact me by phone or at the monthly meeting.

Barbara Thomas

We did not undertake a walk in December. Instead we met on 20th December, with festive refreshment, to

plan our walks for next year.

Ukulele Group

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It was agreed that we continue one day 'expedition' but perhaps undertake it in September, so that we might

avoid the higher temperatures of past years. The Thames Walk was enjoyed and it was suggested that a

similar walk (with firmer footing/paved) be considered. It was agreed to look into the potential of a walk

alongside the Regents Canal in London.

Other areas for consideration were The Naze (but away from school holidays!!), walks nearer the Suffolk

border (e.g Woodbridge), Roman River, Epping Forest, bluebells possibly and perhaps a local walk or two.

Our JANUARY walk will be our 'traditional' visit to The Tulip at Springfield, meeting in the pub car park

on January 17th.

at 10.30am. Our walk will be 4/5 miles on paved surfaces through Old Springfield to the

Chelmer Valley Nature Reserve (perhaps "flirting" with the edge of Broomfield) before returning to the

Tulip's welcoming fire. Please let Malcolm know if you are coming; as usual mobile 07375 604506

operative on the day.

HEART & SOLE - made that New Year resolution to get a little fitter? Join us for a gentle mile walk

around the gardens and woodland belt of Broomfield Hospital. We meet at 12.30pm in the Main Atrium at

Broomfield Hospital on Thursdays 19th January and 2nd, 16th February 2017.

Malcolm Taylor

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Chair David Marcus

Secretary Jean Lock

Treasurer Andrew Lilley

Speaker Co-ordinator Carol Greatrex

Membership Secretary Jo Bowman

Newsletter Editor John Williams

Group Co-ordinator Thelma Nickerson

Publicity Muriel Hubble

Refreshments Pat Radford

Committee Member Liz Marcus

Committee member Pauline Draper

Committee Member Barbara Thomas

Group Leaders ART JO BOWMAN

BOOK CLUB BARBARA BARTLETT

BRIDGE MELANIE PIMM

CANASTA MARIE MACKIE

COOKERY JACQUI BARNABY

DISCUSSION GROUP THELMA NICKERSON

GARDENING PAT RADFORD

GEOLOGY ROS MERCER

HISTORY JAN WHITE

LACEMAKING WENDY TALLEY

LUNCHEON CLUB MURIEL WHITING

NATURAL HISTORY SUE BROWNING

NEEDLEWORK ROS MERCER

PHOTOGRAPHY GLYNN WADESON

SCRABBLE HEATHER STEED

SUNDAY + GROUP MURIEL WHITING

SWIMMING BARBARA BARTLETT

TABLE GAMES MARION KHOSHUEI

TABLE TENNIS GROUP JEAN LOCK

UKULELE GROUP/TRAVEL CLUB CHRIS EVANS

VISITS/OUTINGS BARBARA THOMAS

WALKING GROUP MALCOLM TAYLOR

The Committee